Selena Blake's Blog, page 42
March 13, 2013
Book Blogger Interviews: The Book Nympho
Where are you from? Arkansas Were you a big reader as a child? No
What made you decide to start a book blog? I loved talking to people on Shelfari about books and just decided to start my own blog.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger? Coming up with new ideas for post that’s not reviews.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why? PNR authors – J.R. Ward, Jeaniene Frost / UF authors – Jennifer Estep, Stacia Kane / Contemporary Romance – Ruthie Knox Why do I like these authors? They tell great stories with awesome characters.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve? Love triangles. I’m getting a little sick of them and they are a main reason I don’t read much YA books. It seems like they’re really popular in that genre.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Ugh. That’s hard, I really like Urban Fantasy but with the sexual tension I need to chagne up my reading to get my smut fix. LOL I guess I would pick Paranormal Romance because it has some of the UF elementals with a mix of sexy times.
March 12, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Riverina Romantics
Where are you from?
I live in regional NSW, Australia with my two children and husband.
Were you a big reader as a child?
Not really. The only books I remember loving as a child were the Tomorrow When the War Began series. I detested reading the necessary books for English studies.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
When my first son was born I started reading. Reading turned into reviewing on Goodreads, which then turned into the blog. I loved the social side of reviewing and chatting to people about books and the next step after Goodreads was my own blog.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
Time. I’m also an author so finding time to read, review, write and promote – as well as fitting in work and family is very challenging.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I love snarky sarcasm. So my favourite authors write with a heavy dose of it. They include: J.R. Ward, Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter. I am also in love with Cindy Gerard, Joey Hill and Lorelei James just to name a few.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
I hate adverbs. Yes, I know. It is a weird peeve. And I can’t stand cheating from a hero or heroine – EVER.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I only read romance, so I will always stick to that. But if I have to pick a genre within romance…Eepp…damn, I would probably say contemporary.
Links:
riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/RivRomantics
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RiverinaRomantics
March 11, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Book Lovin Mamas
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child?
(Anna) I’m from Central Texas, born and raised. J I never really read much until after high school but once I started I couldn’t stop myself.
(FranJessca) Born in Maryland, raised in FL and living in Virginia Beach, VA thanks to the Navy, but moving back to FL this summer.
I definitely was a big reader as a child. My Mom always said I had my nose in a book growing up. The minute I started reading, I was addicted.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
(Anna) I have this overwhelming need to share with people my love for reading and such, so that is what made me start my first blog. What made Fran and I start Book Lovin’ Mamas together was because we knew we both read the same types of books and two bloggers is better than one so we teamed up. Best decision I ever made! 
(FranJessca) Same answer as Anna….we teamed up together to share our love of reading and created Book Lovin’ Mamas together. BEST DECISION ever! Seriously…I have the best blog partner ever.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
(Anna) Keeping my house clean. That probably sounds funny but it’s not so easy to keep up with two kids, 3 and 7 years old, keep my house clean and keep my TBR list and review list under control. I love what I do though, so it’s worth it. J
(FranJessca) Keeping up with everything else, while blogging. I am a college student, as well as a full time Mom to two girls and wife to a retired Navy Sailor….so life is super busy. I’m up late fixing what ever I need to do with the blog as well as reading. I probably get about 4 hours of sleep every night.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
(Anna) Maya Banks and Lora Leigh because they have the best heroes, big and bad and very domineering. Nailini Singh, Marjorie Lui and Rhyannon Byrd because they have the sexiest shifters. Karen Moning because Jericho Barrons, Christian MacKeltar and the MacKeltar twins….no need to say more there. Mari Carr, Lexxie Couper, Selena Blake, Karen Erickson, Elle Kennedy because their erotica is the hottest EVER! Oh I could keep going and going. I have too many favorites.
(FranJessca) Oh boy, this is a hard one…I have several. Are you ready? J.R. Ward because her BDB series is addicting and it helps when she writes about strong alpha vampire male types, who you want to marry. Gena Showalter because she has the most intriguing writing style…because she does her own thing…she never follows trends. (It also helps when she writes male characters who should be real….not fictional). Karin Tabke…have you read her Blood Moon Rising Trilogy…read it and you will know why I LOVE her!!! Plus….she knows how to make you squirm while reading because she knows how to write a erotic scene. Oh my, just thinking about her shifter books make me want to take a cold shower. =) Sylvia Day because she wrote a fictional character who I seriously am in LOVE with…Gideon Cross. She is the first author who made my emotions go haywire while reading the Crossfire books. I literally can finish any book from her in one day. She knows how to keep you turning the page.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
(Anna) Whiny heroines and womanizing heroes are my biggest story pet peeves. My biggest book pet peeve is folding down the corner to mark your page. Drives me nuts! LOL
(FranJessca) I cannot stand whiny heroines or male characters who assume every female character cannot handle themselves. Sometimes alpha males need to check their ego…especially when the female character can take care of herself. When it comes book pet peeves…I cannot stand someone borrowing a book and not returning it. ALL my books are like my children. Oh and my hubby threatening to get rid of my paperbacks/hardcovers since he got me a Kindle Fire. I keep telling him if he touches one book, I will divorce him. LOL
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
(Anna) This is easy, Romance. It’s all I read now. But please don’t make me choose one sub-genre. I’d never be able to pick one. I need them all! J
(FranJessca) It used to be Paranormal Romance….but I am starting to think I love erotica/contemporary romance more. I love that genre due to some of the ideas I get from it and also because hubby enjoys me reading those more. LOL =)
Thanks for having us Selena! This was a lot of fun!!!
FranJessca’s Bio
FranJessca, aka Fran, Frannie, Mommy, “Red”, Butterfly, or Papi.
Wife, Mom to two Princesses (Ages: 7 yrs and 1 yr), Freelance Photographer, Navy Veteran, and a “Proud” Romance Book Addict.
After 10 years of being in the Service…I’m now a Full-Time Mom to my girls and a Online College Student with UMUC to pursue my degree in Computers Network & Security and Minor in English, so I can eventually get my Master’s Degree. I’m an over achiever and plan to work in the computer field again, while also eventually writing my own romance novels. =)
Book Lovin’ Mamas Bio
Anna and FranJessca met years ago while they were both members of an online mommy message board. Though they have not ever met in person yet, they have known each other for years, keeping in touch thanks to facebook. One day a little over a year ago they started talking about maybe starting up a book review blog together instead of continuing their own personal blogs. They both enjoyed the same types of books so why not. And there begins Book Lovin’ Mamas! 
And boy has it been a fun first year!!!
URL: www.booklovinmamas.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BookLovinMamas?fref=ts
Twitter: @BookLovinMamas
March 8, 2013
Review of A Werewolf to Call Her Own
Andrea at Unromantic Mondays said:
“With good character depth, and a great plot line, Selena Blake pulls at the reader’s heart strings within the last thirty pages and pulls off another great book with Ceara and Maxim’s story.”
March 7, 2013
Help me plan my itinerary
Hello Wolfpack!
I’m planning a trip to New Orleans this year and I want to know what you think I should see. I don’t have a date in mind yet so if you have a favorite festival, attraction, or spot that serves really good food, let me know!
Stay sexy,
Selena
March 6, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: My Reading Obsession
My name is Carin and I am a book whore, will review for books ;O)
In addition to reading I am a mom (homework warden, chauffeur and chief bathtub monitor) I love to quilt, cross stitch, crochet, make my own greeting cards and do word puzzles. (I may be the most boring person in the world LOL) I have been married to my sweet husband who puts up with my insanity for almost 19 years now, when we met I had purple hair and was rockin the goth look while he was a sweet geeky boy who made pottery and wrote computer programs. We got married 3 months to the day from our first date and are still desperately in love.
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child? I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah but have since moved to the East Coast. I started reading when I was 3. My parents tell me I picked up a copy of the newspaper and started reading it out loud to them. I went straight to the chapter books as a kid and was reading the classics Gone With the Wind, A Christmas Carol, Jane Eyre and the like by the time I was 9 or 10. I always had a book in my hand as a child.
What made you decide to start a book blog? I suffer from CFS/Fibromyalgia and when I got to the point that I was unable to go a lot of places or do a lot of things I had in the past I needed and outlet for my busy mind, since I was already a reader I got a couple gigs writing reviews on other blogs and thought to myself I can do this, I want my own blog too! So I spent several days looking into publishers, authors and book tour groups to see what was needed to get started. In August of last year I created My Reading Obsession and leaped in with both feet so to speak.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger? That tends to change sometimes my biggest challenge is just keeping up with the tasks I have set for myself, other times I have a book that I have promised to review but I just am in the mood to read a different genre, I also find myself mentally writing reviews for books I am just reading for fun. (yes I read books to review for my blog and two others and I still have even more books that I read just for me)
Who are some of your favorite authors and why? I love Stephen King he has the ability to write books that just suck you in no matter how creepy they are. I have always been a fan of Agatha Christie, she was a woman before her time. I love paranormal so Anne Rice, J. R. Ward, Nalini Singh, Gina Showalter, Selena Blake, Karen Marie Moning, Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher. I can’t leave out my romance either with Lorelei James, Laura Kaye, Sophie Oak, Cherise Sinclair, Kallypso Masters I could go on for days. I love to be drawn into a story and feel like I am a part of it the one thing I think all of these authors have in common is that they have that ability when they write, I just lose myself for the time I am reading into another world.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve? It would have to be heroines that are to stupid for words or completely wishy washy about everything, I want my heroine to be a strong person who may have some issues to deal with (don’t we all) but doesn’t spend the whole book wringing her hands saying what should I do.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? I would have to pick romance, I am a sucker for the happy ever after. Also you can find just about any sub-genre under the heading of romance western romance, paranormal romance, sci-fi romance, historical romance, you get the idea. I am a total marshmallow when it comes to real life too I just want everyone to have what they need and are taken care of and get a HEA.
This is the link to my blog 4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/
My Twitter @MyReadingObsess
My Facebook Page
My Goodreads Page
My Blog’s Email MyReadingObsession@hotmail.com
My Grab button for my blog
March 5, 2013
Win A Werewolf to Call Her Own
Want to win a copy of A Werewolf to Call Her Own? You’re in luck!
Selena’s giving away four copies away. How do you enter?
Make the St. Patty’s Wolf Badge your profile avatar on FB.
It’s easy to do.
If you’re on a PC:
1. right click and save this graphic to your desktop. (Visit flickr.com to see if there’s a graphic personalized with your name if you want.)
2. Then login to FB. Navigate to your profile.
3. Hover your cursor over your Avatar Picture. A button will pop up that says: Edit Profile Picture.
4. Click on it.
5. Then select Upload Photo from the drop down menu.
6.Then it will pop up a screen with your computer’s files in it. Navigate to the Desktop (or whereever you saved the St. Patty’s Wolf) and click it. Click Open. And that should be add the graphic.
Complete the last step below.
If you use a Mac:
Instead of right clicking to save the image below, Press the CONTROL button and click on it. This should allow you to save the graphic somewhere on your computer. Remember where you save it. Then complete steps 2 – 6 above.
Last Step: Once your Profile Pic (avatar) is showing up as the St. Patty’s Wolf, leave Selena a quick comment here and you’re entered.
Book Blogger Interview: The Jeep Diva
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child?
I was born and raised in south Louisiana and currently live in south Tennessee. I was not a big reader as a child, but in my early teen years I got hooked on Stephen King. At some point I started reading and loving paranormal romance.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
At Readers N Rita’s 2010 I attended a panel on how to get free books for reviews. At the time I was already writing reviews on Goodreads. I figured I should give blogging a try. I have an abundance of free time and a passion for sharing books. I want people to love reading the way I do.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
Not overwhelming myself. There are more books to read than time to read them. There are entirely too many awesome books out there for me to ever get through.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I grew up reading Stephen King so he has to remain at the top. Stephanie Julian definitely deserves a mention. She has created several different series around the Etruscan Pantheon. I LOVE Larissa Ione’s books, she knows how to write very sexy heroes.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
I hate reading a book and the car is just wrong. I’ve read a four door Mustang and GTO. GAH! One book I read recently had the sheriff in a Bronco at the beginning and several chapters later he had a Blazer. There wasn’t a car crash or a change of vehicles. The huge alpha male hero of well over 6 feet tall of ginormous muscle on a GXR 600 is just all sorts of wrong. That hero would look like the circus bear on a tricycle.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Most likely paranormal romance. I have been addicted to them for the past four years. I’ve read many, but I have barely even put a dent into my TBR pile.
Bio: I’m Vanessa, the Jeep Diva. I drive two and I am one, it makes complete sense in this crazy brain of mine. I am bit obsessed with all things Jeeps. I also love to read. I read mostly romance but I just gotta mix it up with a few zombie apocalypse. My abundance of spare time allowed the love of books to flow into a review blog. I do a little author stalking. I have so much fun at the various book cons. I post plenty of con pics on the blog too.
www.goodreads.com/user/show/2246752-vanessa-thejeepdiva
March 4, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: All I Want And More
Where are you from?
I am from the south… the real south!
I am a born and raised Louisiana Southern Girl… But my new home is on the East Coast.Were you a big reader as a child?
I wasn’t a huge reader when I was a child, but I did love to read the Nancy Drew novels and I mean who did NOT love Scholastic book fairs at their school. I mean come on.. I think we need to have that as adults
I was a hit or miss reader. My life was too much like some of the YA novels out there today that I wasn’t much of a reader as I was a writer. I kept journals of my journey.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
This is going to sound silly – Twilight. My daughter bought the first one at her school book fair and then just shelved it. Well, her best friend wanted to get into reading and wanted a reading buddy. So, for the sake of getting a teenager into reading… I decided to read with her and discuss the book as we went… Then after we were done, I wanted the adult version of the Twilight.
So, I started my search and found an author I loved and emailed her… She pointed me to her blog…. And then my little bloggie home was created. But I was a stalker first… I did not active the whole blog… I think it took me about a month, lol before I opened the blog up.What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
Hummm… my biggest challenge is making room for reading and life. I have someone in my life that loves to be active. So, we are always on the go and reading some times does not fit in the picture. But he knows how important reading is to me, so he makes sure I have time to read.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
Is this a trick question…. How much time do I have… My favorite authors are (just the tip of the iceberg) Lissa Matthews, Gina Gordon, Anne March, Stacey Kennedy, Cristal Ryder, R.G. Alexander, Jodi Redford, Lauren Dane, Moria Rogers, Vivian Arend, Selena Blake…. and there are so many more… And why… well, all the authors that I read introduce me into a world of their own, they push my buttons, stretch my imagination, and simply draw me.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
When editors don’t do a thorough job at going through an author’s book with a fine tooth comb. We are all human, but the authors put to much blood, sweat and tears in their work for someone to not have enough care to go through their author’s books to make sure all is good. Then when covers do not go with the story description. The publishing houses need to give authors more leeway in designing their covers.
Sorry…Story related… when there are parts in the book that drag or when editors make author’s put stupid crap that – I as the reader – do not care about when a pivotal scene is happening.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life what would it be and why?
Well, my genre would be erotic and why… I am not called the Smutty Hussy for nothing….
Bio:
Books are my crack & I’ll gladly pimp myself out for them. Okay, maybe not myself… But some of my tribal men that hang out at my Lair! I love to READ – hello – that is why I am here!!! And I love to share… Well, at least my reading journey… Not my men! I love to ready about Vampires… But I do love to read about my sexy alpha ShapeShifters!!!! I love paranormal, romance, funny, erotic,historical… Then combine anyone of the above! Anything with hot steamy,smutty romance and super duper Alpha Men coupled with Kick butt heroine!!! My world is always taking twist and turns in my reading addictions… My world goes from giggling and kitchen sex to dark and sinister sometimes. You never know where you will find me… BDSM, D/s, m/m and f/f are aleasy within my reach… I love every minute of my reading addiction! If you are brave and wanna join me… I will hold your hand… But I might bite!!!
My Blog Link : www.alliwantandmore.blogspot.com
My Twitter: @alliwantnmore
March 2, 2013
Snippet Saturday: Holding Out for a Heroine
I’m back this weekend with a Snippet for your reading pleasure. If you’re new to my books, or have been away for a while you may have missed the first book in my new series, Mystic Isle. Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe follows five vampiresses from France to a paranormal pleasure island in the south pacific. Fun, right? I know!
Read on, and fall in love with Grayson West.
Grayson West braced his forearms against the bar and sipped his Scotch. The slow burn did little to numb his mind or the memories that haunted him. It would take at least a whole bottle to forget the blue eyes that called to him like an aqua-colored moon. Blue eyes he’d seen once before. Blue eyes he’d never, in one hundred and eleven years, forgotten. Damn, she looked good. Modern. Fashionable. Much more appealing without double-edged daggers in her hands.
The bartender stopped by to refill his drink, and he gave a nod of thanks. So much for blowing off steam before he shipped out on his next assignment. Being hit square between the eyes with a relic from his past wasn’t how he’d intended to spend his leave. A quick fuck to take care of his most primitive needs. Had that been too much to ask? Now he wouldn’t be satisfied with anyone while the alluring black beauty was stuck in his mind like a broken record.
Damn.
What was she doing here anyway? The obvious answer: she looking for some action of her own. Vampires were insatiable from what he knew, not that he’d ever slept with one.
But she’d been with a group of women. Friends? Perhaps they planned to take advantage of the island’s other amenities. The idea that she was on the prowl for a lover made his stomach ache like a rancid hunk of steak.
He downed the Scotch and signaled the bartender to fill the glass again. While he waited, he turned on the swivel stool and surveyed the room. In a dim alcove, two bodies moved against one another, almost in time with the sensual instrumental version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas that poured from the overhead speakers. The scent of sex filled the air. At the other end of the bar, a woman giggled as she and the man she was with made a speedy exit out the patio door.
Despite the festive holiday lights strung about the room and the elegant fir tree in the corner, he didn’t feel like celebrating. Not when she was out there somewhere doing who knew what with… someone else.
He rolled his shoulders and leaned against the bar again.
The air carried a delightful scent past his nose. Evergreen and… and vanilla. Suddenly he was back on the battlefield. Or deep in the forest, as it were. The sword in his hand was heavy, the day, long. A wave of vampires emerged from the thicket. Grayson dove behind a tree as a volley of arrows breezed through the air.
“What’s eatin’ you?” Richard asked, slapping Grayson on the shoulder, jerking him from the memory.
“Nothin’.” Everything.
His longtime sparring buddy settled on the barstool next to Grayson. “I thought you’d already be fucking a beautiful woman. Isn’t that why we came here?”
That was the plan. “Having a drink first.”
Richard’s head jerked back a notch. “How many have you had?”
Grayson pursed his lips and counted. “This is number four.” Grayson made eye contact with the bartender again before tipping back the glass.
“You tryin’ to drink a whole bottle by yourself? Shitfaced is no way to attract a woman.”
“Barely feelin’ a buzz, buddy.” With his metabolism it would take a full bottle of Scotch to get him good and drunk. And he’d have to drink it quickly.
“Jack and Coke, please,” Richard requested, when the bartender made his way over.
“What about you?” Grayson asked, turning toward his friend.
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Grayson snorted. Richard was about the farthest thing from a gentleman that he could imagine. In all the years they’d known each other, Richard had never been picky about his sexual partners. Man, woman, group… it didn’t seem to matter. And while he was polite enough in mixed company, Grayson had heard more than his share of Richard’s conquest stories.
Yet oddly enough, when he wasn’t crawling through a jungle and assassinating dictators, Richard very much enjoyed the finer things in life. Expensive cars, fine watches, pedicures. Grayson shivered at the thought.
“Already bagged the masseuse,” Richard whispered. “Sweetest cunt I’ve tasted in a long,” he stretched out the word, “time.”
That didn’t surprise Grayson in the least. Richard enjoyed massages almost as much as he enjoyed sex.
“See anyone interesting?” Richard asked.
“Maybe.” A beautiful someone with intense blue eyes.
“Well, have fun.” Richard slapped him on the back. “I see something that tickles my fancy.”
Grayson shifted atop the barstool and watched his longtime friend stalk to the patio. A glimpse of red silk against ebony skin caught his attention and he bolted to his feet. An invisible force pulled him to the door, drink forgotten.
The vampiress sat at a round patio table, alone except for a single goblet. Her long black hair shielded her face from his view, but he knew her profile by heart. Had memorized it that day in the woods. Her heart-shaped mouth haunted his dreams.
Richard approached her table, and Grayson growled low in his throat. A few of the other guests glanced his way. Grayson knew the rules of Mystic Isle. No fighting. No weapons. But he also knew that if Richard wanted her, Grayson would fight him to the death.
Whoa. As quickly as the thought entered his mind he tipped his head back and glanced up at the stars. What the hell was wrong with him? Richard was his best friend. A little abrasive sometimes and ultimately a man-whore… but they’d been through too much to end their friendship over a woman.
Nevertheless, Grayson held his breath as Richard stopped in front of the blue-eyed beauty. He exhaled when she tipped her head back to look up at his friend. For a moment, everything stopped. Time. The ocean. His very heartbeat.
Richard said something, but Grayson couldn’t hear over the music and waves lapping the shore. There was a brief shake of her head. Richard leaned in closer. She cocked her head to the right and fingered the stem of her wine glass. Grayson’s gut tightened, wishing those fingers were running over his skin. Caressing his cock in the same absentminded fashion, bringing him to life before she finished him off.
Richard frowned and backed up a step. It wasn’t very often that his friend struck out. But perhaps the vampire could smell the masseuse on him. Or perhaps she could smell all his past lovers. Whatever the reason, she’d shot him down flat. Richard offered her his charming “you’ll-be-mine” smile and then strode away.
The knot in Grayson’s stomach eased ever so slightly. His mystery woman finished off the glass of wine and the waiter immediately brought another. He’d always thought of her that way, the one woman who’d eluded him all those years ago. She was a puzzle and he’d always wondered what made her tick.
What her voice sounded like.
Had she made it out of the war? And if so, what was she doing with her life?
Was she married? Did she have children? Did she want children?
Did she have parents still? Brothers and sisters?
He settled at a table just inside the door, his chair facing her. He watched her finish off the second glass of wine and then a third. Her gaze never strayed from the moonlit ocean.
If she knew he was watching her, she gave no indication. Never glanced over her shoulder at him. But Grayson could feel the electricity arcing between them. An invisible but tangible connection that made him cross his arms over his chest so he wouldn’t stride over there and toss her over his shoulder. No matter how much the idea suited, he needed to go slow — on a private beach where he could rip her clothes from her body and make her his.
Get your copy: A | BN | ARe | S | K
Hop on over to the following authors’ sites for more tasty excerpts & contests!
Leah Braemel
Caris Roane
Eliza Gayle
McKenna Jeffries
Delilah Devlin
Taige Crenshaw
Felicity Heaton
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels
Shiloh Walker
Lissa Matthews
Myla Jackson
Lauren Dane
